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With year-round sunshine, balmy ocean breezes and picture-perfect beaches, the islands of Hawaii inspire many a visitor to enter a mode of ultimate relaxation and venture no further than the resort pool or closest stretch of sand. There's nothing wrong with that, but experiencing more of the islands' majesty means traveling around your host island of choice, or if your schedule allows it, to more than one of the six main islands open to tourists (Oahu, Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai). Doing so is generally quite straightforward, especially if you plan your itinerary and arrange transportation in advance of your trip. Also consider that in addition to enjoying diverse destinations, you'll get to take in even more of Hawaii's spectacular scenery by land, sea and air.

On-Island Transportation

Visitors to the main Hawaiian Islands have several options for transportation on land. The best choice will depend on how often, how far and where you wish to go. Consider the following options:

Car rentals are available at all of Hawaii's airports, and in larger towns and cities on the main islands. Most visitors find having a car for all or at least some of their Hawaii vacation to be by far the easiest way to get around. Book a car in advance for the best deals and to guarantee availability.

Taxis are widely available throughout Honolulu and the larger cities on Maui and the Big Island, as well as busier tourist areas on all the main islands. Hotel and restaurant staff will usually be happy to call a cab on your behalf.

Airport shuttle services are offered by private companies and many larger hotels and resorts. Book these in advance.

Ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft might also be available in more populated places, but they are not permitted to offer airport pick-up and drop-off services in Hawaii.

Public transportation by bus is available on Oahu, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai. On Oahu, TheBus has over 100 routes covering the whole island, and the Waikiki Trolley covers top tourist spots. The Maui Bus offers 13 routes and operates seven days a week. On the Big Island, Hele-On Bus operates 13 routes, including some that stop at Hilo and Kona airports. Kauai's coastal towns are served by the Kauai Bus.

Inter-island Flights

At the time of publication, only two airlines—Hawaiian Air and Mokulele Airlines—offer inter-island flights in Hawaii. Several private companies also provide inter-island services. Hawaiian Airlines is the largest carrier, offering 160 daily jet flights and serving Honolulu International Airport, Hilo and Kona airports on the Big Island, Lihue Airport on Kauai, and Kahului and Kapalua airports on Maui. Hawaiian Airlines also operates the subsidiary service, 'Ohana by Hawaiian, with smaller planes offering flights to and from Molokai and Lanai, as well as Oahu, Maui and Hilo. Bookings for these flights are handled by Hawaiian Airlines. Mokulele Airlines operates over 120 flights per day over nine routes. Destinations served by the airline are Honolulu, Lanai, Molokai, Kona, and on Maui the resort towns of Kapalua and Kahului.

Tip

The market for inter-island flights changes fairly frequently. A number of airlines previously operating in Hawaii, including Island Air, go! Airlines, Pacific Wings and Aloha Airlines ceased doing business between 2008 and 2017. This trend of airlines entering and leaving the market is likely to continue, so always check for up-to-date services.

Inter-island Ferries

The only inter-island ferry service (at the time of publication) is the Expeditions Lanai Passenger Ferry between Lahaina Harbor in Maui and Manele Bay in Lanai. (A previous Maui-to-Molokai ferry ceased operations in 2016.) The ferry has five daily departures from Lahaina and five from Lanai. One-way and round-trip tickets are available, as well as golf packages in conjunction with Manele Golf Course on Lanai.

Tours and Cruises

A great variety of guided tours and sightseeing cruises are available on Hawaii's main islands, and they offer the chance to see different destinations without worrying about transportation. Many tour providers will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, upon request. You can also arrange inter-island day trips that include airfare and guided tours in one package. Some snorkeling and sightseeing cruises from Maui take you to Lanai. Helicopter tours give visitors access to hard-to-reach destinations, such as Kauai's Na Pali coast and the lava flows of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island.

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About the Author

A writer of diverse interests, Joanne Thomas has penned pieces about road trips for Hyundai, children's craft projects for Disney and wine cocktails for Robert Mondavi. She has lived on three continents and currently resides in Los Angeles, where she is co-owner and editor of a weekly newspaper. Thomas holds a BSc in politics from the University of Bristol, England.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.